The Severn Estuary Forum is a key annual event in its eighth year and hosted by the Severn Estuary Partnership: an independent, estuary-wide initiative, involving all those interested in the management of the estuary, from planners to port authorities, fishermen to farmers.
This year’s Forum was opened by the Lord Mayor of Gloucester and supported by CIWEM. It focussed on a number of diverse topics, including the upper estuary; renewable energy possibilities; a review of the Severn Estuary Flood Risk Management Strategy; an overview of the operations and maintenance of the Severn River Crossings; Local Enterprise Partnerships; The Bristol Deep Sea Container Terminal; proposals for a Severnside Airport and Fisheries amongst others.
These engaging and exciting events are intended for all interested in learning about the latest research and policy developments dealing with the Severn Estuary and its future, and always guarantee a lively and informative day of presentations and talks. They offer a unique opportunity to learn from others, share ideas and participate in the management of the Severn Estuary.
1. Bristol Channel Energy
A Balanced Technology Approach
Severn Estuary Partnership 17 October
Johnny Gowdy
2. South West Marine Energy Park
A physical and geographic zone with priority focus for marine
energy technology development, energy generation projects and
industry growth
3. Beyond
UK needs large scale renewable energy projects 2020
Image courtesy of Parsons Brinckerhoff
3
4. Severn Tidal Power Study 2010
Cardiff to
Weston Barrage
Bridgwater
Bay Lagoon
Shoots
Barrage
8,640MW
3,600MW
1,050MW
14.4 to 16.7
TWh/a
5.6 to 6.9
TWh/a
2.6 to 2.8
TWh/a
Ebb only
Ebb & Flood
Ebb only
Levelised Cost Of Energy Cost (£/MWh @10%)
£211
£248
£228
5. Recent Barrage Proposals
Challenges
• New Turbine Technology
• Timelines
• Planning and legal risk
• Capital cost and finance
• Environmental Impact – habitat loss &
fish migration
• Impact on upstream ports and economy
• “transformational level of information ”
• Credibility and loss of goodwill
ECC Select Committee Report - June 2013
Government response – September 2013
6.
7. Balanced Technology Approach
Energy, Economy & Environment
A holistic energy system
Mixed technologies
Impacts and interdependencies
Incremental approach
Energy, Economy and jobs
New and proven technology
Invest - stimulating Welsh and South
West economies
Export - global energy market
Environment and society
9. Tidal Stream
Relatively shallow 20 - 35 m with velocities in the order of 2.0 – 2.5 m/s
Map layers courtesy of Junqiang Xia, Roger A. Falconer, Binliang Lin,UKApplied Energy, Volume
87, Issue 7, July 2010, Pages 2374–2391 and ABPmer Marine Energy Atlas
14. Economic Opportunity for Wales and SW
• Marine & sub-sea operations
• Marine engineering and fabrication
• Design engineering
• Advanced manufacturing
• Aerospace and composites
• Electrical, hydraulics and power
systems
• Environmental sciences
• Consultancy and support services
15. Key Challenges
Confusion and mistrust – stakeholders and investors
Lack of understanding regarding costs and technology
Political focus on grand schemes
Tidal range does not have a priority
Economic valuation and financial models
Costs are still too high to support large scale projects
16. New strategy for Sustainable Severn
• Governance structure
• Holistic marine spatial
plan
• Long term energy strategy
• Technology development
England
& Wales
• Industrial strategy
• Co-investment model
• Economic and technical
evaluation
Investors
£ $ €
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Business When the governments Low Carbon Industrial Strategy was announced in July 2009, the south west was designated as the Low Carbon Economic Area for Marine Energy. This was the first low carbon economic area to be identified. Apart from the honour, this designation brought with it additional funding which, together with funding from our European Partners and the south west RDA has been used to support the development of marine energy in the region and to invest in institution such as PRIMaRE. The PRIMaRE stand is at the back of the room, and if you take the time to talk to them you will hear about the research work that is being done at the universities of Exeter and Plymouth.The purpose of Low Carbon Economic Area is to develop jobs and industry.And in the south west the backbone of our industrial capability is our Maritime and engineering heritage. Many of these businesses are based around our hub ports – Portland, Plymouth, Falmouth and Bristol - others are now part of the Hi Tech and low carbon industries which have been growing around the region.In fact many are here today – I know that Regen SW has been overwhelmed by the amount of interest shown in this conference. Partly this is because it is free and there will be drinks at the end – but it also it demonstrates the interest that there is in the renewables sector and the willingness of businesses and entrepreneurs to explore new opportunities to start-up and grow their enterprise.